Woman's Era Club facts for kids
| Named after | The Woman's Era |
|---|---|
| Founder | Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin |
| Founded at | Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Type | Woman's club |
The Woman's Era Club was an important group for African-American women. It was started in Boston, Massachusetts, between 1892 and 1894 by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin. This club was the very first Black women's club in Boston. The club became well-known because of a disagreement in 1900. Josephine Ruffin tried to get the club to join the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), which was mostly white, but faced challenges.
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History of the Woman's Era Club
The Woman's Era Club was the first club for African-American women in Boston. It was founded by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin. The club started sometime between 1892 and 1894. Its name came from a newspaper called The Woman's Era. Before that, it was sometimes called "The New Era Club."
What the Club Did
The club began with 113 members, and Josephine Ruffin was its president. She led the club until at least 1903, and possibly even until 1910. The Woman's Era Club welcomed both Black and white women.
The main goals of the club were:
- To do charity work and help others.
- To help women improve themselves.
- To support good causes in the community.
It was one of the largest women's clubs for African Americans at that time. The club talked about important issues like women's suffrage (the right for women to vote). They also discussed ways to stop violence against Black people. Josephine Ruffin wanted the club to help "racial uplift." This meant working to improve the lives and standing of Black people. They also wanted to help with "urban progressivism," which means making cities better places to live. The club also worked to share the good things Black people were achieving. Their motto was "make the world better."
Important Events
In 1895, the Woman's Era Club suggested a big meeting for African-American women from all over the country. This idea led to the First National Conference of the Colored Women of America. This was the first national meeting of Black women in the United States. It happened in July 1895.
In 1901, the club moved its main office to Tremont Temple in Boston. Later, they met at the Robert Gould Shaw House. The Woman's Era Club eventually joined with the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACW).
Joining the General Federation of Women's Clubs
The Woman's Era Club joined the Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs in 1895. Later, they were accepted into the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC). The president of the GFWC, Rebecca Douglas Lowe, did not realize she had accepted a Black women's club. By April 1900, the Woman's Era Club had received their membership certificate and paid their fees.
The "Ruffin Incident"
In June 1900, Josephine Ruffin went to a big GFWC meeting in Milwaukee. She was there as a representative for the Woman's Era Club. She was offered a seat as a delegate from two other mostly white clubs instead. But Ruffin insisted that the Woman's Era Club be officially recognized.
The Massachusetts state federation then tried to pass a rule to formally accept the Woman's Era Club. However, this rule was voted down. Women from several southern states, especially Georgia, opposed it. Ruffin tried to take legal action against the GFWC, hoping Booker T. Washington would help. But the lawsuit never happened, and Washington did not get involved.
This attempt by the Woman's Era Club to join the GFWC became a big topic among women's clubs. Ruffin was still chosen to be a delegate for the next GFWC meeting in 1902.
News about this disagreement, known as the "Ruffin incident," was mostly positive for Ruffin and Black women. One newspaper, The Decatur Herald, said that Ruffin's request helped show the progress of Black women in the United States. However, another paper, The Evening Transcript, wrote that Black women's clubs in the South did not like Ruffin's actions. They worried it would cause problems or make them lose support from white women's clubs who were helping in their communities.
Notable Members of the Club
- Agnes Jones Adams: She was on the club's executive board.
- Maria Louise Baldwin: She also served on the executive board.
- Alice A. Casneau: A dressmaker and clubwoman from Boston.
- Eliza Ann Gardner: She served as a chaplain and was on the organizing committee.
- Florida Ruffin Ridley: She was the club's secretary.
- Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin: She was the club's president.
See also
